The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1887-07-23
WORK OF THE INTERSTATE COM
MISSION.

The Inter State Commerce Commits
sion performs great deal OF effective
work in quiet way that don't get into
the newspapers. Complaints are al
most daily received from individuals
against alleged determinations and I'm
due eXactions on the part OF railroad
companies. Commissioner Morrison
says that this class Of complaints was
not only numerous but comprehended
great variety of subjects. Some were
important, many were trivial, but all
had to receive attention. In some in
stances the orthography and chirogra-
ply showed the complainants were
lacking in education, although the man
ner of prefering the complaints showed
the writers were not deficient in the
general knowledge of business and
commerce. In many cases the contro-
versy would originate between the com
plainant and the local agent, and might
be attributed to bad temper on both
sides. \ letter from the Commission
was sufficient to settle this class. Some
times railroad agents, assuming that
their patrons were not we'll informed as
to the new order of things, would make
unfair exaCtions, and at other times
controverted points would be submitted
by both parties. Al these cases, Col
Morrison said, were examined, and the
Commissions suggestions and recon-
mendationS had always been accepted
and acted upon. In this particular the
Commission was performing a kind OF
local magisterial duty. The case. pre-
sented were individual yet represented
variety of subjects somewhat general
in character, and their settlement IN the
conciliatory manner alluded to avoided
much controversy and friction.
\ Great Movement.
According to the statistical report of
the Sunday schools in the United States
rendered at the late international Con
vent!on hell il Chicago, there has been
an increase in the scholar membership
of all the Sunday schools in the United
States since 1854 of 3G5, G45. 1t is inter
esting 10 know by what agencies this in
crease has been secured for it shows that
a great missionary work has been done to
bring an army Of 800, 900 into active
membership with our Sunday scLoOlg
No more important work can be con-
ceived of, for it has to do with the GeS-
tiny of our entire country.
The three last annual reports Of the
American Sunday school Union, the old
uudenoninatlOnal society that cares for
the children, who are provided for by
no one else, show that since 1854, it has
brought 1Sj, 034 children into /, All new
Sunday schools, ia number equal to 5000
more than one half Of all the increase re-
ported as having been secured by this
and all other agencies during these three
years. But this American Sunday School
Union did more than this-It aided 4, 50
schools, which have III, III teachers and
5lJ, IA scholars, SO that in these three
years it reached g. S12 communities and
Sunday schools, and 100, us children, and
youth, and then reaided and revisited
these schools 80 54S times besides max.
ing g., JS4 visits to families, supplying
10, 0l9 destitute persons with the scrip
lures and holding - PAT religious meet
iugs. That there Is great need for more
of inst such work in our country, is evi-
dent from the fact that according to the
International Secretary's report there are
but S, O3i, 1IS scholars in all the Sunday
schools III the [ nited States, that report
to this convention, which the chairman
of the Executive Committee said was five
per cent too small. If five PER cent. were
added, we have S 1876 POI scholars in all
our Sunday schools. But the statement
was made that 20 per cent. should be de-
Quoted for those over p and under six
years Of age and those who attend more
than one school aud are counted twice;
which deducted would leave G, AS, 96l
children and youth Of school age in all
our Sunday schools, while there are at
least 9 600, 900 more children OF that age
in our country, and very likely most of
them attend no sunday school.
Truly the American Sunday School
Union is doing great work, for present
and failure Amel lea, for which there is
most urgent need. Any who would like
to read its last annual report, or aid its
work by gift OF fluids may send to j. NJ.
Crowell, secretary o: Missions, il22
Chestnut street, Philadelphia, Pa.